Starkville Academy athletic director Brian Merkel said he was looking for a few characteristics in the Vols’ new girls soccer coach – the ability to develop talent, teach the game of soccer and a pure passion for the sport. Merkel identified all those things already on staff in Lydia Hinton who was promoted Tuesday from assistant coach to the head role of the Vols’ girls varsity soccer program.
“She’s one where it is very apparent she loves the game of soccer, she loves being around it, she loves to coach it,” Merkel said. “She’s been around it her whole life. … Just kind of getting to see her coaching at that level and how much time and effort she’s put into our program already. We’re just excited to promote her and see how she runs the program from the top seat.”
The promotion gives Hinton, who has also served as the head junior varsity coach, her first head coaching opportunity at the high school level. She replaces Boston Hampton, who coached the Vols for two years in a part-time role with the school, but stepped away from coaching after the end of last season.
“I feel good because I get to work with the same girls I’ve worked with previously being their head junior varsity coach and assistant varsity coach,” Hinton said. “So I’m looking forward to it. … It was something I’ve been working for and looking forward to for a while, so I’m glad it came to be.”
Looking to improve on last season’s three-win finish, Hinton said she plans on bringing in a “more striking style” of play to the Vols. One that features “full-team movement together.” That will make for an exciting brand of soccer, Merkel said.
“I think (Hinton will bring) a lot of energy, a lot of investment and time and skill development,” Merkel said. When she talks about soccer you can tell how much it means to her and how much she enjoys being around it. Just pouring energy and effort into the program and wanting what’s best for the kids will be pretty apparent from the start.”
But before they get to the season’s start, there’s a lot of work to do in the offseason. Workouts, training and skill development are all on the docket for the Vols this summer.
“We’re trying to get physically fit and stay healthy this season,” Hinton said. “Last season we had quite a few injuries, just regular stuff that happened, and we’re just trying to get physically fit and get ready for the season and be healthy.”
Like many other Vols fans, Merkel can’t wait to see how the team improves come time for the season’s start.
“I just want to see us competitive game-in and game-out,” Merkel said. “I think we’ll give great maximum effort and just let the chips fall where they may, but to compete at the highest level, improve our skills I think is something that you’ll see from our team.”
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